Child sexual abuse, dissociation, and alcohol: Implications of chemical dissociation via blackouts among college women

Alicia K. Klanecky, Jennifer Harrington, Dennis E. McChargue

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study examined whether childhood sexual trauma moderated the relationships between dissociation and both problematic college drinking and alcohol-induced blackouts among a sample of college females (N = 156). Cross-sectional data were consistent with the moderation hypotheses. Simple effects showed that the relationship between dissociation and blackout frequency as well as problematic drinking only existed among those with sexual trauma histories (p <.035), but not among those reporting no sexual trauma exposure (p =.333). Findings implicate the use of alcohol as a possible maladaptive coping mechanism among college females with childhood sexual trauma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)277-284
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2008

Keywords

  • Blackout
  • Childhood sexual abuse
  • Dissociation
  • Problematic drinking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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